Court ruling could green light DeLay trial

Posted: Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Associated Press

AUSTIN - A Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruling Wednesday should remove roadblocks to former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's public corruption trial after years of procedural slow motion, his defense attorney said.

DeLay and two associates are charged with money laundering and conspiracy stemming from efforts to elect Republicans to the state House in 2002.

On Wednesday, the appeals court rejected arguments by the co-defendants, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, that the law used by prosecutors does not apply to them because the corruption allegations involved checks instead of cash.

Although the ruling did not directly involve the case against DeLay, defense attorney Dick DeGuerin and Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg agreed the trial judge had been waiting for the co-defendants' appeals to play out before proceeding.

DeGuerin said the charges are bogus, but he's ready to get on with a trial. He said once trial court proceedings begin, possibly in August, "it will be obvious" prosecutors can't prove their case.